Software and Operating Systems: Revision and References
Shared revision, practice questions, answer explanations and references from the original module.
By Akhilesh Saini
Module-level quick revision
| Exam clue | Answer | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Manages computing resources | Operating system | Not the application doing the user task |
| Program used to type a letter | Word processor | Application software |
| Running instance of a program | Process | Stored program need not be running |
| OS core resource manager | Kernel | Not the entire user-facing OS |
| Group of queued noninteractive jobs | Batch processing | Workload may run on a general OS |
| Predictable deadlines | Real-time system | Not simply fastest hardware |
| Interactive short CPU time slices | Time-sharing | Multiple CPU cores are not mandatory |
| Multiple cores processing work | Multiprocessing | Not identical to multiprogramming |
| Icons and windows | GUI | Linux/Windows/macOS can have GUI |
| Typed commands through shell | CLI | Does not identify the OS by itself |
| Linux-based mobile platform | Android | Android ≠ a generic Linux desktop distribution |
| Apple's Mac OS | macOS | Different from iPhone iOS |
| Connect OS requests to device | Device driver | Driver is software |
| Persistent low-level device/startup code | Firmware | Often updateable flash |
| Scans for malicious software | Antivirus utility | Different from firewall |
| Translates assembly instructions | Assembler | Not compiler of high-level language |
| Joins object code modules | Linker | Not a device driver |
| Restart already running system | Warm boot | Distinct from cold start |
| Organizes files | Folder/directory | A file holds contents |
| Indicates probable file type | Extension | Not proof of content or safety |
Module self-check
- Explain how a spreadsheet, operating system and printer driver cooperate to print a report. Guidance: application prepares content; OS manages the job; driver interfaces with hardware.
- A computer handles interactive user commands while also running scheduled reports. Which concepts apply? Guidance: time-sharing/multitasking for responsive use; batch processing for scheduled grouped jobs; a modern general-purpose OS may do both.
- A user says, "I changed a filename from
.txtto.pdf, so it is now a PDF." What is wrong? Guidance: extension rename changes a label but not the actual file format or encoded content. - Compare a driver and firmware on a printer. Guidance: driver operates on the host/OS side; firmware provides low-level device behavior within the printer.
Sources and further reading
The material and original questions are written for computer-awareness examination practice. These official technical references support important definitions and qualifications:
- Microsoft — What is an operating system? — fundamental OS roles.
- Microsoft Learn — Processes and threads — processes, threads and resources.
- Microsoft Learn — Local file systems — files, directories and file organization.
- Android Developers — Platform architecture — Android's Linux-kernel foundation and runtime layers.
- Android Open Source Project — System and kernel security — Linux foundation and isolation concepts.
- GNU — Compilation (C Language Manual) — compilation units, object files and linking.
- GCC — Overall options — compilation stages and linking distinctions.
- CPython — Bytecode interpreter documentation — why the simplified "interpreted line by line" idea has limits.